San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1887-01-20
WASHINGTON LETTER.
(From Our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Jan. II, 1887.


The weeks work in Congress can
be easily summarized, as the Senate
vas in session only three days and
the House four. Besides good deal
of other private legislation, the Sen
ete pensioned the widow of General
Logan at $4,000 year, secretly dis
cussed the Mexican Reciprocity treaty
and debated the important pending
bill on Interstate Commerce. The
House passed three of the regular
appropriation bills, several dozen pri-
vate pension bills, and discussed
bills oh the Public Buildings and
Naval Reorganization. But what
should be emphasized in the work of
IL Democratic House is the passage,
without opposition, and without any
provision for Confederate soldiers, of
n pension bill for the current year
appropriating over $76,000,000.
This amount is nearly as much as
were the entire expenses of the gov
eminent before the war, and it ought
to put the Republican rnnters to
of the last presidential campaign to
the blush, if anything could. Demo-
cratic close fistedness, indeed! Where
in does it consist?
Senator Beck has by no means
given up his intention of pushing his
bill to PROFIT members of congress
from acting rs attorneys for railroads
which have received government aid,
although his long silence had led
some of the railroad Senators to
hope that they would not again be
confronted by this bugbear. II is u
sore trial for them to have to face
this dreadful measure, especially
since they know it is urged forward
by a practically unanimous public
sentiment. The debate on the Inter
state Commerce bill is being long
drawn out in the Senate as u shield
to keep Mr.. Beck off, but even it must
come to an end when all the speakers
have made their speeches for or
against it.
1t seems that the Revenue Reform
question Is really coming to the front
now, and that another effort will be
made to reach those surplus millions.
This time it will be by the internal
revenue men, Mr.. Randall and his
followers. They will advocate that
the whole of the tobacco tax be re-
moved; that the tax on alcohol used
in the arts be abolished, and that
fruit brandies be relieved of tax, but
as to whether they will attempt any
tariff alterations, no one can predict
The members of congress from to-
bacco producing states feel that it is
II duty they owe their constituents to
vote for the repeal of the internal tax
on tobacco in almost any shape that
it might be presented.
These are exciting days for the
senators whose terms expire on the
fourth of March, and there are many
indications that the Senate will be
much changed after that time, but
whether or not it will be improved
in character or ability is an open
question. Senator Conger, of A1lchi-
gan, who has been in public life for
thirty-two years, is to be succeeded
by Col Stockbridge. because the lat
ter is a richer man. The long
bearded republican millionaire from
Nevada. Mr.. w. VI. Stewart, is com
ing back for another term. No one
objects to him. however, as he was
rather a lively man in the senate, and
having a pretentious looking resi-
deuce here. takes a good deal Of inte-
rest in the improvement Of Washing
ton City.
Ii j. still doubtful who viii get
Gen. Logans place. but Pennsylvania
sends Mr. Quay, a well known boss
and Iutrigner.instead Of Mr. Mitchell:
and Minnesota sends * Governor
DAVIS. q laTIf reformer. q writer % a
box On Shakespeare, and = so-calied
orator % place q Mr.. Mcmillan.
Nelrasia j. hesltatiug between q